HEALTH chiefs last night refused to reassure residents that the Whittington A&E department would be spared from closure if there was an overwhelmingly negative response to their consultation. Hundreds of residents packed Greig City Academy in Hornsey last

HEALTH chiefs last night refused to reassure residents that the Whittington A&E department would be spared from closure if there was an overwhelmingly negative response to their consultation.

Hundreds of residents packed Greig City Academy in Hornsey last night (Thursday) to quiz the chairwoman of the North Central London Review Panel Rachel Tyndall and chairman of the Haringey Primary Care Trust Richard Sumray at a meeting organised by Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone.

The heated meeting saw the pair being asked scores of questions, but there was one question which seemingly remained unanswered.

The pair were asked by one audience member: "If there is overwhelming opposition to the closure of the Whittington A&E, will you not close the A&E?"

At first the question was avoided, but after they were again prompted by the meeting's chairman Robert Gorrie to answer the question - and angry heckling from the audience - Mr Sumray replied: "We will take into account all of the comments made before any decision is made.